A SCOTTISH MP says tax relief for the games industry will have a massive impact on Scotland's economy.
Stewart Hosie, Scottish National Party MP for Dundee East, says it is likely to create jobs and attract investment in the country.
Videogame development was handed tax breaks as part of Chancellor George Osbourne's Budget in March.
It followed years of lobbying by TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry.
The organisation found that videogaming in Scotland contributes £74 million to the UK’s GDP and generates £30 million in tax revenues to HM Treasury.
TIGA is now liaising with Scottish developers to ensure the Government frames the tax relief in a way which is simple and effective for the games industry to use. TIGA wants the application process to be an easy one.
Videogaming supports 2,000 jobs, including around 700 in game development with cities such as Dundee being particularly important for the industry.
Stewart Hosie, Scottish National Party MP for Dundee East, said: “TIGA has played a vital role in making the case for Games Tax Relief over the last four years.
“The quality of TIGA’s research and its tenacious campaigning have enabled MPs including myself to make the case for a tax relief for the video games sector in Parliament.
“I now hope that this measure will help to create jobs and promote investment in the high technology Scottish games industry.”
Scotland has 50 studios making games for mobile, online, casual, educational and console markets. They include Rockstar North, Denki, Tag Games, Dynamo Games, 4J, Digital Goldfish, Firebrand, and Proper Games, each of which have a track record in developing successful and critically acclaimed video games.